Looking to get a new Pokémon game? Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald are heralded as some of the best games in the series, and the region of Hoenn is a significant departure from Johto or Kanto. There are minor differences between Ruby and Sapphire, but Emerald makes some major changes to the formula.

Steps

Part 1

Ruby and Sapphire

1

Know which Pokémon can only be found in Ruby. The only major difference between Ruby and Sapphire is the availability of certain Pokémon (along with some minor story and character differences). Below are the Pokémon exclusive to Ruby.[1]

Pokedex #

Pokémon

Type

273

Seedot

Grass

274

Nuzleaf

Grass/Dark

275

Shiftry

Grass/Dark

303

Mawile

Steel

335

Zangoose

Normal

338

Solrock

Rock/Psychic

383

Groudon

Ground

2

Know which Pokémon can only be found in Sapphire. Below are the Pokémon exclusive to Sapphire.

Pokedex #

Pokémon

Type

270

Lotad

Water/Grass

271

Lombre

Water/Grass

272

Ludicolo

Water/Grass

302

Sableye

Dark/Ghost

336

Seviper

Poison

337

Lunatone

Rock/Psychic

382

Kyogre

Water

3

Base your decision on the Legendary availability. The biggest difference between Ruby and Sapphire is which of the two main Legendary Pokémon you want to get. Ruby players get Groudon, while Sapphire players get Kyogre.

Emerald allows you to get both, while also making a number of significant changes to the base game.

Part 2

Emerald

1

Know which Pokémon cannot be found in Emerald. All the Pokémon from both Ruby and Sapphire are available in Emerald except for the following Pokémon. These Pokémon cannot be found in the wild in Emerald. You will need to trade with another Generation III game to obtain these Pokémon.[2]

Pokedex #

Pokémon

Type

283

Surskit

Bug/Water

284

Masquerain

Bug/Flying

307

Meditite

Fighting/Psychic

308

Medicham

Fighting/Psychic

315

Roselia

Grass/Poison

335

Zangoose

Normal

337

Lunatone

Rock/Psychic

2

Get Emerald if you want access to the Battle Frontier. This location becomes available after beating the Elite Four and the Pokémon Champion, and provides a huge amount of additional content and some of the toughest challenges in the game.

The Battle Frontier is also the only place to capture Sudowoodo and Smeargle.

3

Get Emerald if you want to rematch Gym Leaders. Emerald introduced the ability to challenge Gym Leaders that you've already defeated to another battle. The Gym Leaders will have stronger and even different Pokémon. Some may even have Pokémon from other regions.

4

Get Emerald if you want a challenge. A lot of the game has been retooled to be more challenging. This is most apparent when getting your Legendary Pokémon (Kyogre and Groudon), as they are 20 levels higher than in Ruby or Sapphire.

Many of the Gym Leader battles are more difficult in Emerald as well.

5

Get Emerald if you want the "Definitive Version". Pokémon Emerald makes a lot of small tweaks and changes to the base Ruby and Sapphire games.

Emerald allows you to capture both Kyogre and Groudon.

Rayquaza has a much more prominent role in the story, and is also the first Legendary you will obtain.

Both Team Magma and Team Aqua are featured as foes.

You can get one of the Johto starter Pokémon (Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile) after completing the Pokedex.

There are a variety of other small changes to the look and feel of the Hoenn region.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 209,651 times.

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Co-authors: 14

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"I started playing Pokemon again and haven't finished Ruby, but was wondering if I should play Sapphire and/or Emerald. This article help me decide by showing the difference. Thanks a lot. ;) "..." more- Samuel Azevedo Paez